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THE 



EARLY HISTORY 



HEMPSTEAD 

(LONG ISLAND). 



BY 



CHARLES B. MOORE. 



NEW YORK : 
TROWS PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY. 

1879. 






Reprinted from The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 
Vol. X., No. i, January, 1879. 






THE 



EARLY HISTORY OF HEMPSTEAD 



The early history of this town requires that dates be clearly stated, and 
places be kept distinct. Both have often been confused. 

Long Island could be approached from many directions. Its posses- 
sion was coveted by the English, then in New England, on the north and 
east, and by the Dutch at the west, where the passage was narrow. It 
had numerous bands of Indians, with whom the whites of both nations 
for several years traded. Both English and Dutch were actively in pur- 
suit of beaver. The fur trade was profitable. Fishing, also, was an im- 
portant business ; for food was scarce. The English coming in crowds, 
sought fish more than the Dutch. The long ocean beach afforded facili- 
ties for getting wampum, which greatly added to the attractions. There 
were struggles between English and Dutch about the western part of the 
island, but none (unless merely on paper), for the eastern half. 

The villages of Southampton and Southold, at the east, in the year 1640, 
were settled by Englishmen, who bargained with the agent of Lord Ster- 
ling, under his English patent, and with the Indians, and who took posses- 
sion without the slightest opposition, and without interference from the 
Dutch. These villages, afterwards the centres of townships, were about eighty- 
five or ninety miles in a direct line from New York, and were separated 
from each other by Peconic Bay. Southampton was east of Shinecock 
Bay, which could be entered at the south from the ocean, and from which 
the whites and Indians could readily communicate with Peconic Bay at 
Canoe -place ; and thence across Peconic Bay, or across Shelter Island, 
with Southold. The communications vestwardly on the north side of Long 
Island, by the Sound, and on the south side by the great South Bay, were 
also comparatively easy. Canoes or small boats were used for travel, and 
occasionally larger vessels. 

The principal beaver-dams were west of both these villages. The 
vacant space between them and the Dutch — occupied only by In- 
dians — was large ; embracing necks of land projecting out on each side, 
north and south, many miles, which were separated from each other by 
bays. Into many of the bays small streams ran, called rivers, being as 
large as many of the rivers of England, and which generally started from 
swamps far inland. The island was so closely covered with tangled wood 



a The Early History of Hempstead, L. I. 

and intersected by streams and morasses as to prevent passages on foot, 
and prevent travel by land. The swamps and thickets were numerous 
and large, and in some places the beaver was plenty. " Huppogues," the 
Narragansett word for "beaver place," was in modern Smithtown. Look 
at a map, and see how far the Nissequogue River of Smithtown extended 
south from the Sound across the Island, and how far the Connecticut and 
the Yaphank (called Carman's) River, extended north from the Bay, and 
then estimate the swamps (some of them now mill-ponds), at the sources 
of these streams, and it will be seen how the travel by land east and west 
was interrupted. The numerous Indians, maddened by defeats, will com- 
plete the picture. 

Purchases from or conquests of the Indians, and actual occupation, 
were essential to either party, English or Dutch, for a good and peaceable 
title to land. By the national law of Grotius, both had a right to trade 
with the Indian residents. By the English rule claimed by Selden, which 
excluded- strangers from the narrow seas, these two English possessions 
might keep the Dutch out of the Peconic Bay, while it gave the Dutch the 
East River and the Hudson. The English, in 1637, had greatly awed the 
Indians by the conquest of the Pequots, and this seriously affected the In- 
dians at the eastern end of Long Island. The Manhansett tribe left Shel- 
ter Island, and moved west. The Sachem of Cutchogue, in Southold, was 
with the Pequots, and when he returned to Long Island, was very submis- 
sive. Men of his tribe who did not go west and were not destroyed, were 
completely subjugated. 

Early in 1643, Indians at the west combined, made sudden attacks upon 
Dutch villages, and upon small western places occupied by English- 
men, and overpowered them. The disasters and distress were eloquently 
depicted in the Memorial of the Eight Men, who acted as the Dutch Gov- 
ernor's council, addressed to the States-General in Holland, dated Port 
Amsterdam (N. Y.), 24th October, 1643. 

It commences : " Rightly hath one of the ancients said that there is no 
misery on earth, however great, that does not manifest itself in time of 
war." They said : 

" Having enjoyed for a long time an indifferent peace with the heathen, 
Almighty God hath finally, through his righteous judgment, kindled the 
fire of war around us, during the current year, with the indians ; in which 
not only numbers of innocent people, men, women, and children have been 
murdered in their houses .and at their work, and swept captives away; 
whereby this place with all its inhabitants is come to the greatest ruin ; 
but all the boweries and plantations at Pavonia" (now Jersey City and 
Hudson City), "with 25 lasts " (2,700 bushels) " of corn, and other produce 
have been burnt, and the cattle destroyed. Long Island is destitute also 
of inhabitants and stock, except a few insignificant places over against the 
main, winch are about to be abandoned " (referring, doubtless, to Kings Co. 
and Newtown). "The English who have settled among us have not 
escaped. They too, except in one place, are all murdered and burnt," etc., 
etc. (See copy m 1. 0"Callaghan's New Netherlands, 289.) The excepted 
place where the English were saved, was at Gravesend, at the southwest, 
where Lady Moody had gathered an armed force of forty men and de- 
fended herself against Indian attacks. This formal paper, it will be re- 
marked, did not notice nor claim Southold or Southampton as Dutch. 
They were thriving villages. 



The Early History of Hempstead, L. I. c 

Early in 1644, a military force of white men, Dutch and English, having 
been raised, organized, and trained, the Indians in Westchester County 
and the western parts of Long Island, were attacked in their villages and 
forts, and subdued. There were thirty-five English soldiers at first ; after- 
wards fifty, gathered chiefly in New England, or by Lady Moody ; and the 
skill, discipline, and courage of Capt. John Underbill, an experienced Eng- 
lish soldier, who had fought in Holland, and against Indians in New Eng- 
land — and of some of his devoted followers — were brought into use and 
contributed to success. Some of the soldiers had been sent to Stamford, 
the western settlement of Connecticut, to protect the whites against Indi- 
ans. There was much slaughter at Greenwich, Conn., near Stamford, and 
on Long Island, in Queen's County, terrifying the Indians into complete 
submission. 

" They solicited the intervention of Capt. Underhill to procure a cessa- 
tion of hostilities," and peace was concluded between them and the Dutch. 
Long Island sachems signed articles, and agreed to communicate these 
articles to their sachem on " Mr. Fordham s plains." 

This was not written so early, but it is one of the earliest notices about 
the great Hempstead plains— now the site of Garden City. It is reported 
that in 1643 the Indian sachems had agreed to sell these plains to English- 
men ■ of course, when utterly subdued, they would sell ; but the agreement 
has not been seen. It may have been made with Rev. Mr. Fordham and 
his followers before he was employed and settled at Southampton, and 
before he went there.* 

After the fighting and the peace, the Dutch Governor Keift, who was 
fully authorized, issued his letters patent, dated 16th November, 1644, to 
Robert Fordham and six other Englishmen (one of whom he had before 
employed to build the Dutch church in the fort), and unto their heirs and 
successors, or any they should join in association with them, for land (with 
all the havens, harbors, rivers, creeks, woodland, marshes, and all other 
appurtenances thereunto belonging) " upon and about a certain place 
called the Great Plains on Long Island, from the East River to the South 
Sea, and from a certain harbor known by the name of Hempsted Bay, and 
westward as far as Matthew (Martin) Gerretson's Bay ; to begin at the 
head of the said two bays, and to run in direct lines, that they may be the 
same latitude in breadth on the south side as on the north • and as far 
eastward ; " but with a condition, " in case the patentees and their asso- 
ciates shall procure 100 families to settle down within the limits of five 
years after the date hereof ; " granting full authority to build a town or 
towns, with fortifications, and erect a temple or temples to use and exercise 
the reformed religion which they profess, with the ecclesiastical discipline 
thereunto belonging ; and with full power and authority to erect a body 
politic, or civil combination among themselves, and to nominate magistrates 
to be presented to the Governor for choice and appointment, etc., etc. 
And if the patentees cannot within five years procure 100 families to settle 
on said lands, they shall enjoy, ratum pro rata, land according to the 
number they shall procure. Reserving (as rent), from the expiration of 
ten years, the tenth part of all revenue that shall arise from the ground 

* Two Dutch papers, without official or responsible signatures, set up the story ; one that there 
was an English colony at Hempstead, dependent upon the Dutch, before the hostilities of 1643-4, which 
they sought to protect ; and the other, that in April, 1644, seven Indians were arrested and confined at 
Hemstede, where "an English clergyman, Mr. Fordham, was Governor. " (4 Doc. Hist, of N. Y., 15. 105). 
But both of these were paaisan productions, and in many particulars inaccurate. 



6 The Early History of Hempstead, L. I. 

manured (or cultivated) with the plow or hoe ; if demanded, before it be 
housed ; gardens and orchards not exceeding one Holland acre excepted. 
(See copy in 2 Thompson's L. I., 4, 5, 6.) 

This very favorable patent implied (as certainly was the fact) that there 
had been no previous Dutch grant for land within those bounds ; nor 
probably were there then any settlers ; if any, a very few. 

All the patentees were Englishmen, and their associates were generally 
English ; and no doubt the patent was particularly intended for an English 
settlement, and was favorably drawn to attract and secure them. 

It embraced a large part of the modern towns of Hempstead and North 
Hempstead, extending across the island north and south where it was 
wide, and in length east and west about 8|- miles. See a map. Martin 
Garretson's Bay came into dispute afterwards ; i. e., whether it meant 
Manhasset Bay, or was west of Great Neck, and referred to what is now 
called Little Neck Bay. No one could claim under this patent that it 
was Hempstead Harbor. (See the Historical Magazine, by S. Dawson, 
Vol. I., Third Series. 368.) 

The towns of Jamaica and Flushing, afterwards patented — the latter in 
1645 — are on die west, embracing now a part of the land originally 
granted to Hempstead ; and the town of Oyster Bay was afterwards 
formed on the east. It is now the eastern town of Queens County. 
Huntington, the western town of Suffolk County, settled eight or ten years 
after this patent, was next east of Oyster Bay ; and, adding Oyster Bay to 
Suffolk, near two-thirds of the island, it will be seen, was east of this 
Hempstead patent. The distance from the village of Hempstead (20 miles 
from New York) to the village of Southampton, was about 64 miles in a 
direct line — a distance too often overlooked. There were then no roads, 
and no horses with which to travel them, if there had been roads. 

The first white child born in the town of Hempstead was soon after this 
patent. He was named Caleb, a son of John Carman, born Jan. 9, 1645, 
and he was blind through life. His father and otfiers testified in Court to 
the payments made to Indians for the land. It may be inferred from 
the name, and from other circumstances, that he was one of the spies who 
had examined the country possessed by the heathen, made a good report 
of it, and exhibited (perhaps) some of the native grapes for which it was 
noted. 

The sheltered little harbors now called Hempstead Harbor and Roslyn, 
at tiie head of Hempstead Bay ; and Manhasset, at the head of Manhasset 
(formerly Cow) Bay, were probably places early visited by Englishmen 
from Connecticut, or from Massachusetts or Rhode Island, trading with 
the Indians, and exploring the wild country. Indian villages were Located 
at pleasant and convenient sites in all such places. Their marks can yet 
be traced. 

It is admitted by all that what was called Cow Neck, which is termi- 
nated at the north by Sands' Point, was embraced in this patent. The 
harbors and creeks on the south side of the island, including Hempstead 
Bay, south, it is probable, were visited by boats from Southampton, and 
Indians also found there. 

In 1047, as appears by the town records, a division or allotment of land 
was first made under tins patent (/. e.) three years alter its date. 

By reading the general history, we can infer much of what must have 
occurred. Delays, of course, arose in gathering together such a band of 



V 



The Early History of Hempstead, L. I. y 

interested persons, and in exploring the ground. Men could rove and 
explore ; but families requiring houses and furniture, and protection, had 
a slower motion. 

The first "meeting-house," to be used also as a town-house, by report, 
was raised in 1645, but not finished until 1648. It was 24 feet square. 

On 4th July, 1647, a deed was obtained from Indian Sachems, which re- 
ferred to a purchase made in 1643. This latter may have been merely a ver- 
bal sale, or a sale of a small part. But probably it was the treaty of peace. 

In this allotment of 1647, sixty-six proprietors were named ; a large pro- 
portion of whom, if they ever settled there, did not long remain on the land. 
They were of the pioneer class ; chiefly from New England, but some from 
Southampton ; not one from Southold. We cannot tell clearly which of 
them were soldiers with Underhill in 1643. Arranged alphabetically, we 
give such details respecting each as are convenient. 

The Rev. Robert Fordham, though named as a patentee, went to South- 
ampton to preach. In April, 1649, he made his formal written agree- 
ment there. It is stated in Thompson's L. I., that he preached at South- 
ampton two or three years before the date of that agreement.* He re- 
mained there until his death in 1674. He is not named among the per- 
sons who had lands allotted them in Hempstead. Doubtless his son John 
took his place as a landholder, and probably John Moore came from South- 
ampton to preach in his place, who was at Hempstead in 16=51, but not 
found at Southampton after 1647. 

LIST OF PROPRIETORS OF HEMPSTEAD IN 1647. 

i. Ashman, Robert, 1650, at Hempstead ; 1660, at Jamaica. 

2. Armitage, Thomas, in 1635, as reported, from Bristol, Eng. One 

T. A., ae. 24, sailed from Gravesend, near London, for Barbadoes ; 
1635-6, at Lynn, Mass. ; 1637, at Sandwich ; 1641, at Stamford, 
Conn., afterwards at Oyster Bay, L. I. He mar. twice ; Manassah, 
a son by 1st wife, studied at Cambridge and grad. at Harvard in 
1660 ; d. by 1678. (2 Thomp. L. I., 13, note, and Cotton Mather.) 

3. Baccus, Samuel, 1637, "Backus," at Saybrook ; 1663, prob. "Samuel 

Bache," New Haven, a Yorkshire name. 

4. Carman (written Karman) John, 1636, at Lynn ; 1637, at Sandwich ; 

one, master of a vessel (Winthrop), 1644, one of the patentees of 
Hempstead ; he testified, in 1677, that a broad axe was given to 
the Indians, 32 years before ; 1645, Jany. 9th, son Caleb born, named 
on Dutch census list 1673, a ^ so Josiah ; 1653-4, Mrs. Carman named 
in New Haven records about a debt which Mr. Sylvester owed her ; 
1673, one I- C. named, on Dutch census list ; 16S2, at Hemp- 
stead ; 1685, John and Caleb, each 180 acres. 

5. Clark, Samuel, prob. the one who mar. Hannah, dau. of Rev. Robert 

Fordham, 1657, at North Sea, Southampton, q. v. ; 1699, one S. 
C, at Elizabeth, N. J. 

6. Coe, Benjamin, son of Robert, b. 1629 ; 1656, interested in Jamaica ; 

j 661, opposed to Quakers; 1663, signed Hartford Petition; 1683, 
Patentee of Jamaica. 

7. Coe, John, son of Robert, b. 1626, Capt. ; 1660, see Baird's History of 

* Mr. Howell, the author of the History of Southampton, finds indications that he was there one year 
before the agreement and see 2d N. Eng. Reg., 263. 



8 The Early History of Hempstead, L. I. 

Rye ; 1663, Delegate to Hartford from Hempstead ; at the head of 
a force ; called Junr. ; 1664, magistrate for Newtown, appointed at 
Hartford ; 1665, Member of Convention from Newtown ; 1665, 
"Miller of Middlebnrg;" 1685, 150 acres, Hempstead; 1689, 
Sheriff of Queens ; 1699-1710, Judge of Queens Co. 

8. Coe, Robert, b. in Norfolk Co., Eng., about 1594 ; living in 1672 ; 

sons : John, b. 1626 ; Benjamin, b. 1629, etc. ; 1634, from Eng., 
at Watertown, freeman of Mass. ; 1640, at Wethersfield, deputed 
to treat with New Haven for Stamford ; 1641-2, at Stamford, ap- 
pointed a deputy for New Haven ; 1653, Memb. of Convention 
from Newtown ; 1653 ; signed to Gov. Stuyvesant and the States- 
General ; 1656, interested in Jamaica ; 1661, opposed to Quakers ; 
1665, Patentee of Jamaica ; 1669-72, Sheriff of Yorkshire. 

9. Denton, Daniel ; the historian, eldest son of Rev. Robert ; 1650, 

Sept. 16, Oct. 18 ; as " clericus," he certified " by order the Laws " 
made, requiring all inhabitants to attend the public meetings on the 
Sabbath, under penalty, etc. ; 1656, 1st clerk of Rust dorp (Jamaica) ; 
1664, had land at Elizabethtown, N. J., sold in 1665 to John Og- 
den ; 1665 and 1686, Patentee of Jamaica ; 1665, Memb. Conven- 
tion from Jamaica ; 1670, his brief description of New York, pub- 
lished at London ; 1688-9. Clerk of Queens Co. 

10. Denton, Nathaniel, prob. son of Rev. Richard ; in 1656, at Ja- 

maica ; 1661, opposed to Quakers; 1664, applied for land at 
Elizabethtown, N. J. ; 1665, sold to John Ogden ; 1665 and 1686, 
Patentee of Jamaica. 

11. Denton, Rev. Richard, b. in Yorkshire, Eng., in 1586; 1623, grad. 

at Camb. Univ. ; d. in Eng., 1662. He became Minister of Hali- 
fax, Yorkshire ; 4 sons : Daniel, and prob. Richard, Jun., Natha- 
niel, and Samuel. Deprived of one eye ; and " though he were a 
little man, yet he had a great soul" (says Cotton Mather). 
In 1635, at Wethersfield ; 1641-3, at Stamford ; 1647, 61 years of 
age, at Hempstead ; 1650, the 1 orders to attend church could not be 
enforced; 1656-9, at Hempstead. His wages not paid; 1659, 
returned to England (2 Thomp. L. I., 20). He did not please a 
large proportion of the settlers. Many of them had been accus- 
tomed to forms, language, and style very different from his, and they 
were so widely scattered that they could not readily attend at one 
place. 

12. Denton, Richard, Jun., son of Rev. Richard. 

13. Denton, Samuel, son of Rev. Richard; 1673, on Dutch census list 

of Hempstead ; 1685, 240 acres. 

14. Ellison, John, who prob. had son John, Jun. (on Dutch census list 

of 1673) ; son Thomas (on Dutch census list of 1673 ; Sen. in 
1685 ; 270 acres); son Richard {on Dutch census list ot 1673 ; in 
1685, 60 acres). In 1647 he was at Oyster Bay ; in 1663, on 
Madnan's Neck ; in 1673, on Dutch census list ; in 1682, Sen., at 
Hempstead ; in 1685, Sen., 60 acres. [John, 125 acres.] 

15. FOUCKS, |«uin ; not traced. 

16. Fordham, John, eldest son of Rev. Robert ; 1640-41, at Southamp- 

ton ; died 1683; letters of admn. 
Fordham, Rev. Robert (see before, No. j). 

17. Foster, Christopher, b. in Engl., 1603; d. 1687; mar. Frances; 



The Early History of Hempstead, L. I. g 

issue — Rebecca, b. 1630 ; Nathaniel, b. 1633, d. 1687 (who settled 
at Huntington) ; John, b. 1634 ; and afterwards others. In 1635 
came on the Abigail, with wife and 3 ch. ; in 1637, freeman of 
Massachusetts ; resided at Lynn ; in 1638, had 60 acres there ; in 
1649 to 1653, at Southampton. 

18. Foster, Thomas, prob. son John (in 1664, applying for land at 

Elizabeth, N. J. ; in 1685, having 55 acres ; in 1688, a resident of 
Jamaica). In 1639-47, this name at Weymouth, at Boston, and at 
Braintree ; in 1644, this No. 18 came from Fairfield, Conn. ; in 
1658, William Foster appointed to run lines with Indians ; name 
preserved by " Foster's Meadow," w. part of Hempstead. 

19. Guildersleeve, Richard, a surveyor [he, or his son, or both] ; son 

Richard, Jnn. (on census list of 1673) ; in 1639, freeman of New 
Haven ; in 1641-2, at Stamford ; in 1643, Deputy to New Haven 
Court (with Capt. Underhill) ; 1658, a Magistrate — acting ; 1665, 
appointed, at Hartford, Magistrate for Hempstead ; 1673. on Dutch 
census list ; 1685, Sen., patentee, 100 acres (Jun., 280 acres) ; 
1688,- rated in Huntington, L. I. ; 1696, he or his son living at 
Huntington (descendants there). 

20. Hicks, John ; in 1641, came, with Thomas and Robert, from Hol- 

land to New York ; 1645, named in Dutch patent for flushing ; 
1650, or about that date, at Far Rockaway ; 1653, Memb. of Engl. 
Convention from Flushing; signed the Petition, with others ; 1658, 
appointed at Hempstead to settle lines with Indians, acting as 
Assistant Magistrate ; 1663, Delegate to Hartford from Hempstead, 
and appointed Magistrate ; 1665, Member of Assembly from 
Hempstead. 

21. Hudd, John (or Hews, Hughes, or Hubbs). [In 1637, John Hud- 

son, of Lynn, 2 Winthrop, J., 48.] 

22. Hudson, Henry [some give the name Stephen]. [In 1685 Hannah 

H. had 22 acres.] 

23. Ireland, Thomas, d. 1669 ; mar. Joane , who survived him, 

and who, on 24th August, 1670, mar. (2d) Richard Letten (G. and 
B. Rec, 2, n), prob. left son Thomas [1673, ^82, 1685, at Hemp- 
stead, 70 acres). In 1659, Jan. 2d, Thomas Ireland, Sen., had 
suit against Richard Brudenel, and R. Latting was a witness for him. 

24. Jackson, Robert, d. about 1682-3; niar. Agnes — ■ — ; son John 

[the Col. on Dutch census, 1673 , : m J 685, 430 acres], and dau. 
Martha; 1641-2, he was at Stamford ; 1656, applicant for Jamaica ; 
1658, at Hempstead, appointed to run lines with Indians ; 1665, 
Member of Assembly at Hempstead ; 1672, Constable of the town 
[highest office] ; 1673, on Dutch census list ; 1683, May 25, Will, 
naming wife and two ch. 

25. Lawrence, John, b. in Engl, about 1618 ; d. at N. Y., 1699 ; 

mar. Susannah ; issue : Joseph, John, Thomas, Susannah, 

Martha, Mary. In 1635, came over, aet. 17; 1644, one of the 
patentees of Hempstead ; 1645, name also in Dutch patent for 
Flushing ; 1663, an officer under Gov. Stuyvesant; merchant of N. 
Y. ; 1672, '3, '4, '5, and 1692-8, Member of N. Y. Gov.'s Council ; 
1673 an d ^91, Mayor of the City of New York; 1691, Sheriff of 
Queens : 1693-8, Judge of Supreme Court ; 1698-9, Will, N. Y. 
Lib. 5 of Wills, p. 345. 



IO The Early History of Hempstead, L. I. 

26. Lawrence, William, called younger brother of the last ; d. about 

1680 ; mar. (1st) , and (2d) Elizabeth, eldest dau. of Richard 

Smith, who survived, and mar. (2d) Capt. Philip Carteret, and 
(3d) Col. Richard Tovvnley ; issue by both wives : William, etc ; 1645, 
named in Dutch patent for Flushing ; 1666, Alderman of N. Y., 
and Patentee for Flushing ; 1680, Inventory, N. Y. (3 G. & P>. 
Rec, 124, 129, &c.) 

27. Lewis, John (not identified) ; one in 1648 at New London ; but in 

his place John Lum has been named. 

28. Lewis, Richard (not traced). 

29. Lines, Roger ; 1656, interested in Jamaica ; 1659, had sold meadow 

in Hempstead. 

30. Ogden, John ; one d. 1683, leaving 3 sons ; one, and prob. this one, 

mar. Judith, dau. of Lieut. John Budd. She survived him, and 
mar. (2d) Francis Brown. 1641-2, he was at Stamford ; he con- 
tracted to build Dutch church at the fort in N. Y. ; 1644, he was 
one of the patentees of Hempstead ; 1647, had permission to settle 
six families at North Sea, Southampton ; 1650, freeman of South- 
ampton ; resided there ; became a Magistrate, and represented the 
town at Hartford ; 1662, named in the new charter of Connecticut ; 
1664, patentee of Elizabeth, N. J. ; 1667, had removed to Eliza- 
beth, N. J. ; 1673, he, or a son, purchased New Barbadoes, N. J. ; 
1680, see Baird's History of Rye. 

31. Ogden, Richard; 1641-2, at Stamford, co-contractor with the last 

to build the Dutch church. 

32. Pierson, Henry; d. 1680-81, mar. Mary Cooper, from Lynn; 

issue : John, Daniel, Joseph, Henry, b. 1652 ; Benjamin, Theodore, 
and Sarah, b. 1640-1, he was of Southampton "one of the 

first and leading settlers ;" 1649, 1654, 1659, on nst °f townsmen, 
Southampton. He was prob. a brother of Rev. Abraham, b. in 
Yorkshire. 

t,t,. Pope, Thomas; d. before 1677 ; mar. Mary , who survived 

him ; son John, who settled at Elizabeth, N. J. ; 1652, house and 
lot and 3 acres at Southampton ; 1665, interested in Elizabeth, N. J. 
See Hist, of Stamford and Elizabeth, and Records of Southampton. 

34. Raynor, Edward. 

35. Raynor, William. 

36. Rogers, William ; d. 13th July, 1664; mar. Ann will in 

1669, widow. Issue : prob. Jonathan, of Huntington, not named in 
her will, Obadiah (of Southampton, 1634-92), John (of Branford), 
Samuel, Mary, Hannah, Noah (of Huntington and Branford) ; 
1642-6, at Southampton ; 1649, freeman and townsman of South- 
ampton ; 1649 to 55, at Southampton; 1652, first owning land at 
New London ; 1654, new land at Southampton (Sagabonack). 

37. SCOTT, Joseph (or Schott), inn-keeper; mar. Mary 1658, his wife 

prosecuted and fined for favoring Quakers. 

38. Scott, William. 

39. Sering (or Scaring) Simon ; 1642, at Stamford; 1672, at Hempstead 

(a permanent settler); 1 084, at Hempstead, Justice ; 1685, Paten- 
tee for Gov. Dongan's patent, 171 a< res. 

40. Sewell, John, not traced. 



«■ The Early History of Hempstead, L. I. \\ 

41. Shadden or Shadding, William , 1658, at Hempstead ; nominated 

for Magistrate. 

42. Sherman Thomas ; in 1636, one of his name at Ipswich. 

43. Smith, Abraham; In 1641, allowed land at New Haven ; 1656, in- 

terested in Jamaica ;' 1661, opposed to the Quakers ; 1663, signed 
Hartford Petition ; 1682, 1685, at Hempstead, 150 acres. 

44. Smith, James ; 1756, at Newtown ; 1664, one at Jamaica ; 1673, one 

at Huntington. 

45. Smith, John, Sen. ; 1 641, at Stamford ; 1659, to keep an ordinary at 

Hempstead. See Westchester Co. 

46. Smith, John, Jun. ; eldest son of John, killed by Indians at Newtown ; 

b. in Eng. about 1615, x. 60 in 1675 ; a judge, called Rock John ; 
1673, on Dutch census list; 1685, J. S. Jun., Rock, 230 acres. 

47. Smith, William ; d. before 1684 ; mar. prob. by license, 4th 

Jan'y, 1668, to Hannah Scudder. Issue: Thomas, Joseph, Nehe- 
miah, Wait; 1656, one at Gravesend ; 1658, May 17th; signed 
application of Huntington to New Haven ; 1663, signed Hartf. Pet. ; 
1666, an inhabitant and landholder of Huntington ; 1684, deed by 
his sons as heirs for land in Huntington. 

48. Stephenson, Thomas ; 1643, of Yennycott (Southold), had sold a 

boat in Virginia ; 1644, at Stamford and New Haven ; 1645, prob. 
mar. at New York ; 1653, law suit in New York ; 1654-5, at 
Newtown ; 1658, meadow at Southold. 

49. Storge or Storye, John ; 1661 and 1670, " John Storye," of Flushing. 

50. Strickland or Sticklan, John ; mar. ; had son Thwait, who 

settled at Wethersfield ; dau. Elizabeth, who mar. Jonas Wood, of 
Halifax, a trader, and a dau. who was the fust wife of John Sea- 
man ; 1629-30, an original settler of Charlestown, Mass. ; 1631, 
freeman of Mass., memb. of church at Watertown ; afterwards at 
Wethersfield and Fairfield, Conn.; 1644, one of the patentees of 
Hempstead ; 1650, represented at Southampton, L. I., by his son- 
in-law Wood ; 1660-61, applied for land in N. J. (Hatfield's Hist, 
of Eliz.) ; 1663, signed Hartford Petition at Jamaica ; 1666, at Hun- 
tington ; inhabitant and landholder ; released land there to Jonas 
Wood, of Oakham ; 1667, made complaint of ill-treatment of his 
grandson, at Hempstead. 

51. Strickland. Samuel (prob. a son of John, who d.). 

52. Tanner, Nicholas ; 1639, at New Haven, servant of Perry, 

whipped; 1641, at New Haven ; ^3 claimed of him by Mr. Bry- 
an ; 1656, interested at Jamaica ; 1663 (one of his name), at Swan- 
zey. 

53. Toppin, Mr., or Topping, John (in whose name perhaps the title 

was placed) ; 1646, one b. at Southampton, son of Capt. Thomas. 

54. Thickstone, William ; in 1675, at Hempstead,, near the mill; in 

1685, 83 acres. 

55. Valentine, Richard ; 1673, on Dutch census list, with Richard, Jun.; 

1682-5, Sen., at Hempstead ; Jun., 71 acres. 

56. Washburne, William ; came to L. I. with Rev. Mr. Leverich ; 1653, 

he, with John and Daniel at Oyster Bay ; 1653, witness to Indian 
deed, Oyster Bay ; 1654-5, signed petition with others ; Memb. of 
Assembly at Hempstead ; 1654, of Hempstead, in court at New 
Haven. 



I 2 The Early History of Hempstead^ L. I. 

57. Whitehead, Daniel, b. about 1603 ; d. Nov., 1668, <e. 65, son 

Daniel became Major and Patentee ; 1650, at Smithtown ; 1652, 
Jan. detained a prisoner at New Amsterdam, but soon released 
[V. Dutch MSS. Council Min., pp. 1, 2, 3] ; 1653-6, early pur- 
chaser at Huntington ; 1668, will dat. Nov. 10, not proved or re- 
corded ; on file in Surro. orifice, N. Y. ; 1669, Mar. 21st, Executors 
renounced and Letters Admn. granted to Stephanus Van Cortlandt, 
on behalf of Oloff Stephens Van Cortlandt, his father, a creditor. 
[N. Y. Wills, Lib. L, p. 74.] 

58. Whitson, Henry. [This family name since numerous.] 

59. Willet, Thomas, b. in Eng. about 161 1 ; d. R. L, 4th Aug., 1674; 

1629-30, arrived at Plymouth, Mass., from Leyden [1642 and 
1645, another, T. W. mar. and died at New York ;] 1650, nego- 
tiated truceline between Dutch and Eng. at Hartford; 1650-51, 
purchaser of ship Fortune, confiscated; 1651-64, an assistant 
Magistrate of Plymouth Colony ; 1664, first English Mayor of New 
York ; 1655-72, Memb. of Gov.'s Council, N. Y. ; 1663, June 21. 
See the King's Letter to the Colonies (2 N. Hav. Rec, 499). 

60. Williams, Robert, b. in Wales, brother of Richard, b. in Wales ; 1647, 

1659, 1682, at Hempstead ; 1653, Indian deed, Oyster Bay and 
Hunt., to him and others ; 1666 (or near), at Huntington ; 1668, 
Patentee of Dosoris, Oyster Bay. 
6r. Williams, William ; 1665, Memb. of Assembly. 

62. Wood, Edmund, of Oakham, Yorkshire ; d. before 1669 ; sons, 

Jonas and Jeremiah ; 1636, an original settler of Springfield, 
Mass. ; May, lots for him and Jonas, adjoining the mill brook ; 
1637, at Wethersfield ; ) viz., Edmund, Jeremiah, Jonas, and Jonas, 
1 64 1, at Stamford ; \ Jun. 

63. Wood, Jeremiah (or Jeremy), son of Edmund ; 1636, '39, and '41, 

with the last ; 1685, Sen., at Hempstead, 300 acres ; Jun., 58 acres. 

64. Wood, Jonas, son of Edmund, called "Mr.," of Oakham ; d. 12th 

June, 1689; sons, Jonas, Jun., and John; dau. Elizabeth, mar. 
Isaac Piatt ; dau. Pliebe, mar. Epenetus Piatt ; 1636, '37, '41, see 
Edmund, above ; 1644, one of the patentees of Hempstead ; 1658, 
May 17, at New Haven ; Deputy from Huntington ; 1665, Mem- 
ber of 1st Assembly, Hempstead. (See Huntington.) 

65. Wood, Terry (no trace ; prob. a mistake for Jerry or Timothy). 

66. Yates, Francis [or William, b. 161 9 ; a witness in 1677] ; 1658, 

1667, at Hempstead (see 10 N. E. Regr., 358) ; 1682, at Westches- 
ter ; d. there Dec. 8, 1682; will dat. Nov. 29. 1682, names five 
x children — Mary, John. Din a, Jonathan, and Dorothy. [N. Y. Wills, 
Lib. 2, p. 331.] 

A few other names have been mentioned, such as John Cornis, (Cornell 
or Cornells), Robert Dean, John Roads, William Thorn, and Richard W'il- 
lets ; hut we are not sure of the dates. 

At least ten of these men can be traced from Yorkshire, England. A 
much larger number doubtless came from that large county. So many 
were from Yorkshire, that the settlement was characterized as a Yorkshire 
one. One of their difficulties we cannot readily appreciate, nor could the 
Dutch. At that date the provincial dialect of Vorkshire was so strange, 
that other Englishmen could not understand their common language ; nor 



The Early History of Hempstead, L. I. \\ 

could they make themselves understood by strangers without great diffi- 
culty. By report they were loyal to the English King and sharp at a 
bargain, but ready to oppose and resent unjust treatment. 

We may notice that (as Marshall says') Yorkshire was chiefly " grass- 
land." Grain (or com, as they called it) was not much cultivated. They 
designed to and did keep flocks and herds. They had learned how to 
procure them in this country. Hempstead exhibited fine places for 
grazing, over its wide and clear plains, and the salt meadows would pro- 
duce hay in abundance for the winter, without the use of plough or hoe. 
The rich " hollows " and the strips along the foot of the long range of 
hills would afford just the sites required for dwellings, and for gardens and 
orchards. 

Of course, they looked sharply at the terms of their bargain, and espe- 
cially at the last clause, by which, after the first ten years of exposure and 
hardship, they were to pay the Dutch Governor one-tenth of all revenue 
from the land that was ploughed or hoed (for grain or vegetables), except 
that a Dutch acre, equal to near two English acres, was to be allowed to 
each, for a garden and orchard (/'. e., without payment). This was all that 
many of them wanted for cultivation. The D.itch for a long period had 
not much prospect of revenue from land cultivated by plough or hoe. 
Before the meadows were allotted, the settlers united to gather the hay, 
and even erected a " town barn ; " while private barns for the cattle in 
winter were also built near the meadows. 

The village of Hempstead was built in one of the large hollows. A tall 
steeple is almost alone in sight from the open plain, even now. Formal 
agreements at different dates were made for herdsmen to attend and 
watch the common drove of cattle, receive them from the owners half an 
hour after sunrise, and deliver them back half an hour before sundown. 
Butter was to be received in payments — the first notice seen of its use as 
a currency. In 1658 the dues, called tythes or tenths, for the Governor, 
for two years, after some dispute, were adjusted at 100 sheeples (or 
bushels) of wheat, showing some regular farming amid all the disturbances. 
The Dutch officials were doubtless disappointed at the small returns to 
them, and they used rough words and harsh measures. The new Dutch 
Governor, incapable of understanding them or the circumstances, was 
rough and arbitrary. He forbid them to gather crops until his tenths were 
first paid, which, it seems to us, was contrary to the charter. 

In 1650 the truce line was negotiated at Hartford, with much diplomacy 
and parade, between Dutch and English, by their colonial magnates, and 
was expected by many to become permanent. 

By this the new town of Hempstead fell to the Dutch. Its east line, 
the west line of Oyster Bay, was the intended boundary-line between 
English and Dutch. The treaty, locally acquiesced in and long held in 
suspense, was never approved and exchanged abroad. The line never 
became a national and regular boundary-line. 

The war of 1653-4, between the Dutch and English nations, in Crom- 
well's time, came very soon, and nearly broke up the Hempstead settle- 
ment. It was on disputed territory. 

Very few Englishmen remained. They generally went eastward into 
Suffolk County. Some few stopped in Oyster Bay. A larger number 
fixed themselves in the town of Huntington. Others w«ent back to South- 
ampton. 



I a The Early History of Hempstead, L. I. 

Ten years later, when the English, under Capt. Richard Nicolls, cap- 
tured New York, he encountered on Long Island, as Englishmen, farther 
west than others towards New York, a few of these Yorkshiremen, and he 
called Long Island Yorkshire. 

The Dutch census list of 1673 i s tne earliest general list of residents we 
have noticed. On this, only eight of the sixty-six persons above named 
can be clearly traced in Hempstead, and about eight who were probably 
descendants of the first. There may have been a few more. Twelve 
names are gone from the census list, or illegible, and several others dis- 
guised by Dutch spelling. 

In the census list of 1698, recently discovered, only fifteen family names 
were the same as in this allotment of 1647, viz. : Carman, Denton, Ellison, 
Foster, Gildersleeve, Hicks, Ireland, Jackson, Raynor, Sering, Smith, 
Thickstone, Valentine, Williams, and Wood. If Capt. John Seaman 
(sometimes written Symon) was at Hempstead so early as 1647, his name 
would be added. He was not from Yorkshire, and was sent by the others 
on embassies, probably because he, with less difficulty, could make himself 
understood. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




